Freeing Vital Energy

Effortless Flow

Short Astanga Practice

When Diane found out that she may be facing the end of her life, she learned what really mattered. Her family, friends and all the places where love existed. "Ultimately," she shared, "I’m pretty convinced that what matters most for 99% of the population is our relationships."

A cancer diagnosis brought Diane to the mat in new meaningful ways. With cancer comes vulnerability, and for a woman like Diane, who was used to being a source of strength and help for others, that can be the most challenging part. "When you have cancer, you get that opportunity to say, 'Okay, am I going to allow myself to be vulnerable, and let people help me?' But you come to this crossroads. And if you have cancer, you better let people help you! So you have to become vulnerable." She practiced letting go, and her most challenging pose, savansana, started to make sense. Then came the courage.

"It takes a lot of courage to run around without hair on your head. It takes a lot of courage to say, 'I’m scared out of my mind! And I might die.' But if you don’t do that, you’ve missed out." Now open, now accepting love, now healing in more ways than one.

Meeting Diane was a lightbulb moment: we need to meet you too. This is your community, and this is the YOU year. Manduka is on a mission to get to know everyone who makes this yoga community so vibrant, and so real. Because we all have something to learn from you — about how we see ourselves, or approach our practice, or make yoga mats.

She's "fairly new" to yoga. It was a way to spend more time with her friend, who'd just completed a teacher training, and the key to easing the pain of fibromyalgia. For Kim, the mindfulness and movement of yoga are so helpful in alleviating the joint stiffness that she experiences – she is taking back control.

And in an unexpected moment during Warrior II, Kim found her strength. She suddenly realized how strong she had become - in the pose and in her body.Through yoga and the guidance of one of her favorite teachers she had found her inner warrior, a healing force ready to overcome joint pain and emotional pain.

Yoga has helped Kim realize that the sky is the limit – that is to say, there is no limit. She has a new sense of self and feeling of peace within.

Meeting Kim was a lightbulb moment: we need to meet you too. This is your community, and this is the YOU year. Manduka is on a mission to get to know everyone who makes this yoga community so vibrant, and so real. Because we all have something to learn from you — about how we see ourselves, or approach our practice, or make yoga mats.

He first tried yoga as a Valentine’s Day gift for his life partner. She gave him a mat and simply requested that he go with her to a yoga class. For Bob, this was not easy because the idea was so foreign and so far out of his comfort zone. In those first few classes he felt off-balance in so many ways, but he embraced the challenge and the spirit of the journey.

In the beginning, as a man immersed in a new culture, Bob’s ego worked hard and often with force - mind, breath, and muscles all trembling to try to reach the “perfect pose”. Then one day, while holding a pose for what seemed like an eternity, it all fell calmly into place. With a feeling of ease, Bob lost the judgment. In that moment, Bob’s breath and body fused together, and he let go of the idea that he needed to reach the pose in a picture-perfect way, and with that he found his own practice.

She believes that anyone can be successful if they approach challenge, possibility and adventure with true openness. It's how she overcame her nemesis: handstands.

For years, handstands had been a source of anxiety. There was something keeping Kat from hoisting her legs over her head, and it wasn't physical. One night, while practicing in her living room (in her underwear, no less - talk about freeing yourself from constraint), she decided to give handstands another shot. Feeling completely at ease, she approached the pose with a new attitude. “What the heck,” Kat thought. “Might as well give it another shot.” And with the support of the wall, and the absence of her judgments, she went right upside down.

That moment taught Kat the power of remaining open to her possibility, because when you stop getting in your own way, you'll be surprised by what you already know how to do. Yoga has taught Kat about deep honesty – with herself and others – not to mention revealed her courage, creativity and beautiful friendships.

He is a medical assistant, nursing student and dedicated bicyclist. Morgan rides his bike 365 days a year --- through downtown Chicago. Morgan is willing to take chances, which is exactly how he found his yoga practice 11 years ago. It started as a way to help him relax and stretch after running 20+ miles per week, it became a source of clarity.

Morgan has a few battle scars. Exactly one year after fracturing his left clavicle, he had an epiphany in Kapotasana: life will hand you breaks, but you choose whether it breaks your spirit, or whether it lets you blossom through the cracks.

Morgan recently raised $1,000 for a friend in India that has Tuberculosis and needed an oxygen machine. Knowing that his friend will be able to breathe for the rest of the year, allows him to breathe easier, too.

He amazes us.

Meeting Morgan was a lightbulb moment: we need to meet you too. This is your community, and this is the YOU year. Manduka is on a mission to get to know everyone who makes this yoga community so vibrant, and so real. Because we all have something to learn from you — about how we see ourselves, or approach our practice, or make yoga mats.

Yoga has given Jimbo a power that's envied all around the firehouse: the ability to BREATHE himself into relaxation. Without crutches, without excuses, there is always the mat. Not only did he lose 30 lbs through Page's DDP Yoga, but his practice also literally saved his life. One day while called out to a fire, his foot went through the roof of a burning building. He was able to pull it out, and afterward faced even more heat from his team:

"Guys you shoulda seen Jimbo, I thought he was going through, and then he starts dong this little dance. What was that bro; they teach you that at the academy?"

No, he replied, that was finding himself in Warrior II, and being able to pull himself out by transitioning into Warrior I. Fighting fires AND defending yoga to a group of New Jersey firemen? If that’s not bravery, we don’t know what is.

Practice On.

--Manduka

This entry was posted in Miscellaneous on February 27, 2012 by Manduka.

She's a former U.S. Marine, overseas contractor, utility power lineman and massage therapist. Laura thinks that people don't believe her when she says she practices yoga, but she's been an Ashtangi since back when she was stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. Now she travels to Mysore, India every year to study at the origin of the practice.

Her best friend (and best teacher) is her 5-year old nephew, Gideon. Her favorite way to get around is by Harley. Her favorite place to practice is at home in Washington, DC. And her mat is a Black Mat PRO.

She amazes us.

Meeting Laura was a lightbulb moment: we need to meet you too. This is your community, and this is the YOU year. Manduka is on a mission to get to know everyone who makes this yoga community so vibrant, and so real. Because we all have something to learn from you — about how we see ourselves, or approach our practice, or make yoga mats.

Practice On.

--Manduka

This entry was posted in Miscellaneous on February 20, 2012 by Manduka.

Yoga helps you be YOU at your most real and most raw. And that's the you we want to meet.

For us, this is the year of YOU. We're collecting your stories, sharing your joy, and are always here when you need someone to lean on. Because you amaze us, and you make this community real. Check out our newest project, the You Series. If you're open to it, we might like to feature you in our next Yoga Journal Ad and send you $500 worth of Manduka gear.